Apparatus for separating nested cup-shaped containers

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically separating stacks of nested, cup-shaped containers having outwardly projecting lips around their rims so that individual containers are continuously supplied to a point of use. The apparatus includes a separating mechanism for continuously separating the containers in a stack and a feed mechanism for receiving a plurality of stacks of the containers and supplying the same to the separating mechanism as a stack being separated nears depletion. The separating mechanism includes a plurality of vertically extending circumferentially spaced bars forming a channel for retaining a stack being separated. Pairs of oppositely arranged, substantially horizontally extending holding and stripping fingers engage, hold and separate the lowermost container of the stack, and a pair of oppositely arranged holding shoes support the stack when the holding and stripping fingers are disengaged from the stack during each separating cycle. The feed mechanism includes an elongated in-feed conveyor which defines a path for receiving a plurality of stacks of the nested containers and which includes a plurality of endless belts for periodically advancing the stacks along the path and towards a staging station on a horizontal support surface of the feed mechanism. A shuttle housing periodically shifts a stack of containers on the staging station laterally over the support surface and over an opening in the surface so that the stack drops into the upper end of the channel of the separating mechanism prior to depletion of the stack being separated.